Re: automake.texi and @acronym

[Eric Blake]

On 03/16/2010 05:58 PM, Karl Berry wrote:
>     The texinfo manual even uses @acronym{GNU} as
>     example.
> 
> It's an example of how to use a Texinfo command.  It doesn't necessarily
> mean that GNU manuals should use it.  There are plenty of Texinfo
> commands which are there for "alternatives".
> 
>     Do you have a rationale for eliminating @acronym?
> 
> I've very very rarely seen it used in other GNU manuals.  The Texinfo
> manual itself, for example, doesn't (aside from the description of the
> command itself).  Emacs and GCC don't (last time I looked).  Etc.

The m4 manual uses it more times than not; however,...

> 
> Also, simplicity argues to remove it.  Do we really want hundreds of
> '@acronym{GNU}"s scattered everywhere?  Yuck.
> 
> You might ask, why does it exist at all.  The answer is, in non-GNU
> manuals, I sometimes wanted to print all-caps words in one point size
> smaller type, which is a common typographical refinement.  However, GNU
> manuals don't do this.
> 
> So I vote for the color "invisible" :).

I'm okay with changing the m4 and autoconf manuals with
s/@acronym{GNU}/GNU/ if we agree that it is easier to maintain, and
doesn't buy much typographically.

-- 
Eric Blake   address@hidden    +1-801-349-2682
Libvirt virtualization library http://libvirt.org

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